The "M"s cancel.

the "n"s cancel

8/4 = 2

6/2 = 3

2* 3 = 6

Ie,, it's

M/M * 8/4 * n/n * 6/2

Anything divided by itself is 1

1 * 8/4 * 1 * 6.2

Multication by 1 is also an identity, so:

8/4 * 6/2

8/4 = 2/1 = 2

6/2 = 3/1 = 3

2 * 3 = 6

Or you can factor out like terms


M8n6/M4n2

= Mn * ( 8*6 ) / Mn * ( 4*2 )

= Mn * 8 * 6 / Mn * 8

=

Mn8/Mn8 * 6

Mn8/Mn8 cancels = 1, so

= 1 * 6

= 6

There are plenty of ways to look at it.

I'm guessing that's not just multiplication. What are you working on, exactly?

Of course, you don't have to pair the 8/4 and the 6/2, it's just that you look at it and you immediately see that eight is just two fours

THANK YOU ORTHO!

I was getting ready to jump out the window. Seriously. I don't get this stuff, and "as a review" I've got to do Algebra 1&2. Last time I had any algebra was 13 years ago in HS and the only way I passed was to trade tutoring from my geeky friends for cigarettes and rides. No tutoring is offered this time 'round and I think the part of my brain that's supposed to be used for this kinda thing is somewhere in Tahiti, dendrites in the sand, sucking Pina Coladas through a synapse. Again,

THANK YOU ORTHO!

Yeah, no prob. I tutored a kid in algebra last summer, and found that I actually enjoyed doing the algebra, especially doing problems entirely in my head. (Which, incidentally, convinces you of the value of factoring.)

So if you have more questions, I'm glad to help.

what's your masters in? why algebra?

I'm gunning for my master's in human services. "Why algebra?" was the exact same question I had for my academic counselor.

Just about anything requires some algebra. If Human Services is what it is, you'll need to calculate rates, fees, interest rates, etc.

I think that a lot of requirement courses are just to weed out people who don't want to put the effort into the degree. Sounds harsh, but just about anyone can pass these courses even if they don't learn anything from them. I know that there's a ton of stuff that I can't do anymore but took and passed the classes for.

It's kind of like hazing, really.

I'm not most verdigris-ed penny in the jar but I still have no idea how I managed to pass Calc I with a B. I'm almost certain that I didn't smoke any wrinkly maths teacher cock that semester. I ended up taking Symbolic Logic as an alternative to Calc II for my maths requirements. (My suckiness at math) made me realize that it just wasn't worth getting Chemistry as my 4th major.

Algebra I get, but I have a hard time teaching it to others: I've used algebra to figure out "real life stuff" but it's terribly hard to come up with good examples that can help some people visualize/intuit how algebra works (that can be done on the back of a napkin and without a calculator).

Moonbird - I'm so totally in your camp when it comes to bad math skills. I avoid it at all costs, with the caveat that my checkbook has to answer up.

Sit back, put on some Simon and Garfunkel, drink some Chardonnay, and all will be well.

"All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of math shall be well." (with apologies to Julian of Norwich)

Huh. I initially read this as "(M to the 8th power times n to the 6th power) divided by (M to the 4th power times n to the second power)." That seems much more like a typical algebra problem to me than the one orthogonality uses.

Moonbird, were exponents involved? I.e., superscripted numbers slightly above the line of the letters? It looks like that's what you were trying to do with the font sizes up there. If so, then the correct answer is "M to the 4th power times n to the 4th power." You simply subtract exponents from the same letter on top and bottom.